Return of the Yak: The Everything Jakob Poeltl Thread

[Wannabe MEP]

The numbers are all there and he has a great IQ for the game as a big which is uncommon. Another key factor. Gasol like in that regard. If we scoop him for $18M/yr, that's a bargain. Starting centre for the next 4 years with those numbers is very good business.

Masai wanted Poeltl last deadline (ask 2 picks) and in off-season (ask still 2 picks) ... had to wait 1 year to get the cost lower. Unfortunately it costed us a terrible first 50 games.

I'm surprised more don't see it this way. It's exactly how I processed the deadline... Sucks that we impacted our first 50 games, but Masai got the guy he wanted. At a price that was tolerable (it's 100% fine to argue that the protection is too low, that's the gamble, we shall see what pick number conveys).

The trade was basically only possible because we have a pre-existing relationship with Yak, and knew he would resign. It's was a great opportunity to grab an average stater in his prime.

The price is right. I think that's an underrated part of this.

Center is weird in today's NBA. You obviously want the best center you can get, but most centers are a liability sometimes because of mobility and/or spacing. Sometimes you need to go small to spread the court on offense or improve speed on defense. If you have too much invested in a center (salary and/or assets), it's literally a big problem. E.g., TWolves spending a load of picks and then $38 million a year on a guy who can't shoot. Ya gonna sit that guy in the 4th quarter when you need to go small?!?

If the price were similar, sure: I'd rather have Gobert than Pöltl. But once you factor in price, 100% I'd rather have Pöltl.

[StopitLeo]

Poeltl is going to end up being our 3rd best player behind Siakam and Barnes very soon. He's averages 4 stocks a game, is easily the best rebounder on the team, 2/1 AST ratio, finishing 80% of his looks within 10 feet, drawing fouls on almost 50% of his drives, and more.

If we expect Siakam and Fred to improve every year, you definitely think Poeltl could. A FT shot that goes in 70% of the time would change a lot for Poeltl. It gives him a shot in the floor of the offense from the high post and let's him close out games. He is incredibly great in defensive positioning and being a part of a play.

Definitely a championship piece and easily worth two first round picks. We got him heavily discounted IMO, most underrated center in the league.

The numbers are all there and he has a great IQ for the game as a big which is uncommon. Another key factor. Gasol like in that regard. If we scoop him for $18M/yr, that's a bargain. Starting centre for the next 4 years with those numbers is very good business.

Masai wanted Poeltl last deadline (ask 2 picks) and in off-season (ask still 2 picks) ... had to wait 1 year to get the cost lower. Unfortunately it costed us a terrible first 50 games.

I think Poeltl is the ideal for this team. He's athletic enough to protect the rim and his high IQ helps his perimeter defence. A very important point on offence, that I think some people take for granted, is that he embraces his role and is very efficient when he gets the ball (he's an elite finisher inside 8 ft).

At $20M/year Poeltl would represent only 15% of the salary cap next year. There are few, if any, complimentary starting centres entering their prime years that you can get at that price. There is also a lot of value in the franchise knowing that Poeltl fits their culture because of his previous time here.

The team's play post-trade has confirmed, as most suspected, that the lack of an effective centre has been a problem. We will have to see what happens to the pick but let's not forget that without this trade we'd be heading into the off-season with the same roster gap at centre that we've had for years and no obvious path to fixing that problem.

[WuTang_CMB]

Poeltl is going to end up being our 3rd best player behind Siakam and Barnes very soon. He's averages 4 stocks a game, is easily the best rebounder on the team, 2/1 AST ratio, finishing 80% of his looks within 10 feet, drawing fouls on almost 50% of his drives, and more.

If we expect Siakam and Fred to improve every year, you definitely think Poeltl could. A FT shot that goes in 70% of the time would change a lot for Poeltl. It gives him a shot in the floor of the offense from the high post and let's him close out games. He is incredibly great in defensive positioning and being a part of a play.

Definitely a championship piece and easily worth two first round picks. We got him heavily discounted IMO, most underrated center in the league.

The numbers are all there and he has a great IQ for the game as a big which is uncommon. Another key factor. Gasol like in that regard. If we scoop him for $18M/yr, that's a bargain. Starting centre for the next 4 years with those numbers is very good business.

Masai wanted Poeltl last deadline (ask 2 picks) and in off-season (ask still 2 picks) ... had to wait 1 year to get the cost lower. Unfortunately it costed us a terrible first 50 games.

I think Poeltl is the ideal for this team. He's athletic enough to protect the rim and his high IQ helps his perimeter defence. A very important point on offence, that I think some people take for granted, is that he embraces his role and is very efficient when he gets the ball (he's an elite finisher inside 8 ft).

At $20M/year Poeltl would represent only 15% of the salary cap next year. There are few, if any, complimentary starting centres entering their prime years that you can get at that price. There is also a lot of value in the franchise knowing that Poeltl fits their culture because of his previous time here.

The team's play post-trade has confirmed, as most suspected, that the lack of an effective centre has been a problem. We will have to see what happens to the pick but let's not forget that without this trade we'd be heading into the off-season with the same roster gap at centre that we've had for years and no obvious path to fixing that problem.

Getting his bird rights were key and Spurs had some leverage there.

[StopitLeo]

The team's play post-trade has confirmed, as most suspected, that the lack of an effective centre has been a problem. We will have to see what happens to the pick but let's not forget that without this trade we'd be heading into the off-season with the same roster gap at centre that we've had for years and no obvious path to fixing that problem.

Getting his bird rights were key and Spurs had some leverage there.

For sure. The Spurs could see that if Toronto wanted a startling level centre they had to do it via trade, at one point or another, because the free agency pool of centres available for the MLE was uninspiring.

Toronto looking to acquire Poeltl at the deadline also signalled that they were not giving up on the season, giving the Spurs leverage. Closing the deal would ultimately have come down to conceding Top 6 protection versus whatever Toronto offered (probably Top 10 because Top 14 is unrealistic IMO).

The only comparable player that hypothetically could have been an available for less was Plumlee but he's 6 years older (turns 33 this week) and wouldn't have been a solution moving forward.

[WuTang_CMB]

The team's play post-trade has confirmed, as most suspected, that the lack of an effective centre has been a problem. We will have to see what happens to the pick but let's not forget that without this trade we'd be heading into the off-season with the same roster gap at centre that we've had for years and no obvious path to fixing that problem.

Getting his bird rights were key and Spurs had some leverage there.

For sure. The Spurs could see that if Toronto wanted a startling level centre they had to do it via trade, at one point or another, because the free agency pool of centres available for the MLE was uninspiring.

Toronto looking to acquire Poeltl at the deadline also signalled that they were not giving up on the season, giving the Spurs leverage. Closing the deal would ultimately have come down to conceding Top 6 protection versus whatever Toronto offered (probably Top 10 because Top 14 is unrealistic IMO).

The only comparable player that hypothetically could have been an available for less was Plumlee but he's 6 years older (turns 33 this week) and wouldn't have been a solution moving forward.

On the other hand, SA only had 2 suitors. BOS and TOR. This was Toronto's deal if they wanted it and BOS couldn't keep up with TOR's offer. TOR also had to do this one to not let BOS get him and become even better. Interesting how it all played out.

[Michael Jordan]

7th in the league in FG% and 12th in RPM, DRPM, and RPM Wins among centers.

Definitely the best pickup in a long-time. Just gotta build around him Siakam and Barnes.

[raincityraptors]

Ok when this trade was made, gauging the universal reaction and the fact that I'm now questioning how good the Thad trade was, I wasn't emphatic about my opinion.

After watching all of these games since he has joined the team, I am going on record saying that both getting off of Birch's contract and getting a starting caliber center that does all of the things that Jak is good at for a 1st in a bad draft and two 2nds is a great deal.

We got a starter going into his prime with legit elite footwork that I am going to enjoy watching for years for draft capital AND got to unload money to boot.

In what universe did we not win this deal? From an asset perspective, we did well.

I make that trade 10 out of 10 times if I am the Raptors or any other team that has the need for a starting center and is looking to move off of a bad contract at the same time.

I can't be the only one who sees things this way am I?

How many picks could you trade Yak for after you sign him this summer?

I bet it's more than 1 2024 pick and two 2nd rounders and there is probably an asset coming back the other way, not a liability (sorry Khem, I hope the knee heals well).

[OakleyDokely]

It's nice to have our C rotation locked up for the foreseeable future. Poeltl (27), Precious (23), Koloko (22) is a very good group.

Already got a bunch of quality jumbo wings.

Just need an shot creator/maker.

[OakleyDokely]

Since Poeltl has entered the starting lineup, the Raps have the 6th best defensive rating in the league overall.

[Jenga_tDot]

Ngl I was on the fence about this trade at first, but after seeing how much better Poeltl got as a player I'm liking the trade. He's improved so much since his time with us.

[Raptors_Dynasty]

Very solid and stable player to have, he's improved steadily these past few years.

Just wish he could make his damn FT's lol

[djsunyc]

i had no clue yak was this good at running the pick n roll. his finishing on the roll looks damn elite.

[Los_29]

i had no clue yak was this good at running the pick n roll. his finishing on the roll looks damn elite.

It's been huge for the offense. Fred's averaging 10 assists a game with Poeltl in the lineup.

[WuTang_CMB]

Since Poeltl joined he has a 7.6 NetRTG, 73% TS, 15 and 9 with 1.7 blks , 1.8 stls

highly efficient

[C-R-E-A-M-]

good trade, bad timing

[F22_Raptor]

Love having Yak at C. Gets those boards we normally give up OREBs to other teams for second chances. Scores on PnRs and close hook shots or in stride layups to maintain leads or build leads. Passes to the open man unselfishly. Better late than never.

[mrdressup]

Precious is promising? Really?

[Tacoma]

Love having Yak at C. Gets those boards we normally give up OREBs to other teams for second chances. Scores on PnRs and close hook shots or in stride layups to maintain leads or build leads. Passes to the open man unselfishly. Better late than never.

Is it better late than never though?

We are 5.5 games behind NJ for 6th with 16 games to play and fast running out of runway, and MIA and ATL still ahead of us who are also gunning for play-in position.

We are in “play-in for what?” scenario still in 9th place which means we have to play 2 play-in games just to make the playoffs. And then we face certain death against BOS or MIL.

If playoff was the goal, maybe had we traded for Poeltl earlier we could’ve reasonably reached 6th place. But as it stands now, it appears too late.

[OakleyDokely]

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[Chandan]

Getting his bird rights were key and Spurs had some leverage there.

For sure. The Spurs could see that if Toronto wanted a startling level centre they had to do it via trade, at one point or another, because the free agency pool of centres available for the MLE was uninspiring.

Toronto looking to acquire Poeltl at the deadline also signalled that they were not giving up on the season, giving the Spurs leverage. Closing the deal would ultimately have come down to conceding Top 6 protection versus whatever Toronto offered (probably Top 10 because Top 14 is unrealistic IMO).

The only comparable player that hypothetically could have been an available for less was Plumlee but he's 6 years older (turns 33 this week) and wouldn't have been a solution moving forward.

On the other hand, SA only had 2 suitors. BOS and TOR. This was Toronto's deal if they wanted it and BOS couldn't keep up with TOR's offer. TOR also had to do this one to not let BOS get him and become even better. Interesting how it all played out.

dont see how "not let BOS become even better" matters. Raptors are not contending the next 2-4 years.